News
Manchester United fined by UEFA for ‘minor’ breach of Financial Fair Play regulations
The breaches are said to have occurred over a four-year period.
Manchester United have been fined approximately £257,000 by UEFA for what they have labelled a “minor” breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
United are among a number of clubs sanctioned by the European footballing governing body, including the likes of Barcelona, for breaking the FFP rules in place between 2019 and 2022 — the Red Devils apparently reported “a minor break-even deficit”.
The club has said it is “disappointed by the outcome” but accepts the fine as the result of a “technical breach” according to the previous set of regulations prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Explaining why they have been fined, the board said the decision “reflected a change in the way that UEFA adjusted for Covid-19 losses during the 2022 reporting period, which allowed us to recognise only €15 million of the total €281m in revenues lost due to the pandemic within the FFP calculation”.
As for Spanish giants Barca, the current La Liga champions — who have been in an awkward and precarious economic situation for some time now — were fined a slightly larger sum of €500,000 (£428,000) and despite having strapped finances are still somehow managing to build a new stadium.
Rather unsurprisingly, UEFA said the Spanish club was guilty of falsely reporting their finances in 2022 and failing to declare “profits on disposal of intangible assets (other than player transfers) which are not a relevant income under the regulations”.
Other continental clubs said to be under the spotlight are AC Milan, Besiktas, Inter Milan; Marseille, Monaco, Paris St-Germain and Roma.
While all of them are said to have complied with FFP last year, they are still under investigation against the new rules and the football authority said it “will continue monitoring their compliance with the settlement agreement during next season”.
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Of course, the irony of this news has not been lost on Man City fans and while the details of the two teams’ respective rule-breaking differ significantly both in terms of severity and duration (City having been slapped with 115 charges over nearly a decade), neither club comes out looking rosy.
Regarding City’s ongoing FFP saga, little progress seems to have been made regarding any potential punishment despite having been found guilty and the only update we seem to have had is that UEFA found further evidence that a £30m payment from the owners was disguised as sponsorship money.
It will be interesting to see how the Premier League deals with both clubs moving forward and whether these sanctions will have any real bearing on them this season, or whether it’ll just be a case of yet more fines as so often seems to be the case.
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Featured Image — Wikimedia Commons/Jason Wong (via Lookout Point)/UEFA
News
Manchester United legend Denis Law has died aged 84
Emily Sergeant
Manchester United legend Denis Law has sadly died aged 84, it has been announced.
The Aberdeen-born footballer was a prolific striker throughout his career, scoring 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United – the club he signed for a then-British record transfer fee back 1962, before departing in 1973 – and also playing for Manchester City too for two separate spells during the 1960-61 and 1973-74 seasons.
Law was an integral part of United’s triumphant record-setting 1968 European Cup winning campaign, was the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or award, in 1964, and also the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford.
But, he previously announced in August 2021 that he had sadly been diagnosed with dementia.
A formal statement confirming Law’s passing by his family was announced by Manchester United this evening: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently.
“We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference. Thank you.”
The club itself added in a statement: “He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.
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“The ultimate goal-scorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”
Featured Image – Manchester United (via X)
News
Advice issued as ‘quademic’ of winter bugs continues to take hold in Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
People in Greater Manchester are being urged to get any vaccinations they are due done, as a ‘quademic’ of winter bugs runs rife.
Cases of flu, Covid, norovirus and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are continuing to take hold across the country, and here in Greater Manchester.
The city is seeing more flu cases and hospital admissions than usual for this time of year.
So now health chiefs are urgently reminding eligible people to get their flu jabs and other vaccinations, to protect themselves and others.
Mancs are also being reminded to follow key public health advice, such as frequent hand washing and staying at home when you’re ill.
The flu vaccination drive runs until the end of March and people who are eligible for it can get it from their GP, pharmacy or one of the city’s walk-in clinics, where no appointment is needed.
Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester’s Director of Public Health, said: “Our advice is very similar to recommendations made during the Covid pandemic.
“It’s really important to keep washing hands well and regularly; cough or sneeze into tissues or your arm; wipe down key communal surfaces like handles on doors; and where possible, stay at home if you are ill to avoid passing on any infections.
“And, in addition to this we would urge anyone who is also feeling financial or food pressures to ring our free cost of living advice line on 0800 023 2692 or text on 07860 022876.”
Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Social Care, at Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester people are well-known for how they look after one another – and passing the flu message on could save lives, as well as unnecessary illness at a time when people face many pressures.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to have their vaccination, so please do go to our walk-in clinics if you are 18 and over and eligible for the vaccine. No appointment is needed: it’s quick, easy and done by teams who want to help you.”
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Featured image: Unsplash, Brittany Colette
Danny Jones -
15th July 2023 
